A key reason why Tottenham won’t want to play Liverpool this weekend?

Over recent years, Tottenham have not enjoyed playing Premier League rivals Liverpool, with the Merseysiders getting the upper hand in the battle between the sides.

It was a 5-0 home defeat to the Reds in 2013-14 that marked the end of Andre Villas-Boas’ tenure at White Hart Lane, while the Anfield outfit travelled south to win 3-0 in the corresponding fixture last term.

Over the course of the last five meetings between the teams, the Merseysiders have scored a whopping 18 goals, conceding just four in reply.

Ahead of this weekend’s clash between the teams, Liverpool have won five games in a row against Spurs – and the signs are that the hex that the Reds have over their London opposition could well continue.

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Although the Anfield outfit have not started the new campaign in as sparkling form as most of the Kop would have wished, the slow beginning has led to Brendan Rodgers’ departure from the club – a change that could see collective fortunes improve.

The Northern Irishman’s replacement is an exciting one, with Jurgen Klopp being lured out of unemployment to take up the reins at the historic English club.

Although Spurs have had a better start to 2015-16 than Liverpool, the clash is less than ideal for the hosts due to a new manager’s presence.

It is a well-known anecdote that playing a team that has just hired a new manager is a recipe for disaster and usually results in a victory for the new coach.

Players that may well have felt comfortable in the starting XI are snapped out of complacency while it is a fresh opportunity for everyone to impress a new boss and stake their claim for regular inclusion in the team.

In this instance and with Liverpool having quite a few injuries, those that are selected will be given a glorious opportunity to show Klopp their worth.

For Spurs, preparing for the fixture will have been all the more difficult this week due to the unknown factor.

Ahead of the clash Mauricio Pochettino will have little-to-no idea what team his German equivalent will field, whether he will look to employ similar tactics to the ones that worked so well for him at Dortmund or simply continue in the vein that Rodgers had been.

This lack of preparation will mean that the hosts could well have to adapt to changing circumstances, think on their feet and deploy their own tactical tweaks once they see what formation and system the visitors are deploying.

For Spurs, winning would be another excellent step in their ongoing goal of finishing in the top four and qualifying for the Champions League.

Not only would it end the horrid run of results against Liverpool from recent years, but it would continue recent momentum and show the rest of the Premier League that they can go toe-to-toe with other members of the top six.

For Liverpool, Klopp’s methods will take some time to sink in and as such it could well be a transitional season for the Anfield club.

However, starting from at White Hart Lane on Saturday, the Merseyside squad members have a glorious chance to stake a claim to be part of the German manager’s revolution going forward.